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diary of a non-jogger: day 1 – failure

Oh, internets, I am so out of shape. I feel like a total and complete failure at jogging. Today I set out to complete Week 1 | Day 1 of the Couch to 5K jogging program. I even have a nifty little iPhone app that tells me when to run and when to walk. Today’s goal was a 5 minute warm-up walk (easy peasy!) and then 60 seconds of running and 90 seconds of walking for 20 minutes, ending with a 5 minute cool-down walk.

Well, I got about 7.5 minutes into the running/walking thing and then had to stop. I felt like I was going to die. Really. I couldn’t breathe (allergies have a role in this I KNOW), my hips hurt and my calves were seizing up. Running on pavement is certainly different than running on the floor in the aerobics room, let me tell you! I hurt in places I don’t normally hurt when I run in my Thursday fitness class.

I thought this was going to be easy and I couldn’t make it to 4 minutes of running. I just couldn’t. So I paused my C25K app and just continued on my walk with Shawn and Jinx. So I did get 3.27K of distance in but it’s pretty much all through walking.

I was very happy that Shawn jogged along with me. He had the daunting task of trying to keep Jinx from thinking that the faster speed meant SPRINT FOR YOUR LIFE WHEEEEE! And yet Shawn’s slow jog still put him waaaaay ahead of me on the street.

I don’t know. I feel like such a failure though Shawn told me I shouldn’t. Not everyone is a runner. I have never been to be honest. Endurance running was not something I was ever good at even with figure skating and swimming at my back.

I am not going to give up. What I need is maybe a Love Seat to the Couch app. A pre-Couch to 5K program that can get me to run 30 seconds or 45 on and 2 minutes off. I need something MUCH lower goal than what I have here.

I will still try and do this Mon-Wed-Fri though. I don’t want to give up despite how abysmally disappointed I am right now. I really thought I could do the 20 minutes with no problem. I was so very wrong on that count.

Any words of motivational advice out there? I could use some encouragement…

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16 comments to diary of a non-jogger: day 1 – failure

Listen.. pay very close attention missy… you can do this. I know you can do this because I was able to do it. If I brought myself from 300lbs.. pre-diabetic.. on a waiting list for gastric bypass surgery.. with asthma.. chronic migraines.. and acid reflux to taking myself off the waiting list, losing 130lbs from diet and exercise alone(no magic potions, or surgeries, or low carbiness, or liquid master cleanses – just HARD WORK), teaching myself to walk, then jog, then do some 5K’s.. then complete a half marathon, then you can do this. You can do this because I did this. I never ran a day in my life. I walked… then I started to ‘see if I could’ jog down the hills… then I started to ‘see if I could’ jog to the next mailbox.. well, I’m at the mailbox, I ‘might as well’ go to the stop sign.. Small steps. No race. It’s just you. No one else. Go as slow as you need to. Just don’t stop. Even if it means just bouncing in place for 60 seconds. You can catch your breathe once the 60 seconds is over. You won’t die. When you swim under water you can hold you breath for 60 seconds and not die. You won’t die. It gets easier. Promise. This is what I used when I started to teach myself how to run (because it’s really a lot more than just ‘running’). I didn’t want to get hurt, so I learned how to do it the right way. you can do this.http://running.about.com/od/getstartedwithrunning/ht/getstarted.htm
you’re gonna be fabulous! 🙂

Well, that’s certainly inspirational. I will listen to you, I won’t give up. I don’t plan on giving up I was just really shocked at how hard I found it when everyone keeps saying it’s such an easy way to start!

OK, I read these last night on my iPhone when I couldn’t get to sleep and those posts are truly inspiring. Thank you, J, a whole bunch. It’s really hard when you feel like you’re the only person who can’t do something and it always looks that way when you’re starting. I just have to remember that it’s not the way it looks.

No more using the ‘F’ word (failure)! Learning to jog is really tough and may be one of the hardest things you do, but it’s very rewarding and think how much Jinx will love it! One thing I learned during my running career: make sure you stretch well before and after and every day during the week, that makes a big difference. Good luck!!

Bravo Cat, for being brave enough to articulate your goals. Anytime you want to run/walk with me at school I’d love to join you. We could do a *power* walk up the mountain. Did you know that hills are as good as speed? I’m proud of your efforts, and can’t wait to hear the next instalment. Don’t let a sluggish/yucky day discourage you.

The first time I tried to do the first run of the C25K app I ended up lying down on a bench because I thought I was either going to vomit or pass out. Lesson learned? My pace was too darned fast — both for the running and the walking sections. I had to slllllooooowwww down. I also hobbled around in pain for the first couple of days as well. Ha!

My friend Laurie? She runs slowly. She jokes that people walking pass her. That’s her pace.

If I jog any slower I am walking again. 😉 I don’t think my pace is too fast I just don’t think I have the lung endurance that I need. At least I am better than I was because the highland dancing last semester helped a lot and the fitness class right now is helping me build strength. Normally my shins and knees hurt and this time the issues were not with those parts of my body – there is hope!

I used to try and jog from one telephone pole to another. It was a start and it was hard. You’ve started and are determined. That’s the main thing! Everything takes time, even swimming and skating. Hang in there!
You’ve inspired me. I think I’ll go outside and see if I can jog from one pole to another! I started and stopped. I will try and get started again! Love you! XO

I tried marathon training for a while. Unfortunately the lesson about NOT running on sidewalks came too late in the program for me to save my knees. I ended up with runner’s knee on both sides, which is ironic since I would NEVER call myself a runner. Anyway, my suggestion is that you find a soft path and take it easy. If you push yourself too hard you’ll burn out or have an asthma attack. Also, if running isn’t your thing, remember that walking is excellent exercise too. Just that hike up to the gym is a workout!